Book Review: Doctor Who: Engines Of War

Author: George Mann
Title: Doctor Who: Engines Of War
Publisher: Random House UK
Publish Date: July 31,2014
Buy: Amazon

Review Copy Provided By: Net Galley
Book Blurb: 

The Great Time War has raged for centuries, ravaging the universe. Scores of human colony planets are now overrun by Dalek occupation forces. A weary, angry Doctor leads a flotilla of Battle TARDISes against the Dalek stronghold but in the midst of the carnage, the Doctor’s TARDIS crashes to a planet below: Moldox.

As the Doctor is trapped in an apocalyptic landscape, Dalek patrols roam amongst the wreckage, rounding up the remaining civilians. But why haven’t the Daleks simply killed the humans?

Searching for answers the Doctor meets 'Cinder', a young Dalek hunter. Their struggles to discover the Dalek plan take them from the ruins of Moldox to the halls of Gallifrey, and set in motion a chain of events that will change everything. And everyone. An epic novel of the Great Time War featuring the War Doctor as played by John Hurt.

Review: I don't know that I've ever been blown away by a Doctor Who novel, but this one came very close to doing just that.

I fell in love with The War Doctor during the 50th Anniversary Special and George Mann gave us an adventure worthy of him. Engines Of War also sets the cannon that The War Doctor deserves to be called The Doctor just like all the rest of his selves.

What really surprised me about this book, was how well I liked Cinder. She was a tough as nails type. A Dalek hunter. She's what you want all Doctor Who companions to be like. She's going to kick some butt too.

I don't usually like stories that involve companions we've not seen on the show, but Cinder was downright perfect, especially for The War Doctor. She kept him grounded and she seemed to bring out "The Doctor" in him, even when he was going by John Smith.

What really hit home in this story was how much alike The Daleks and The Time Lords have become. You want the Time Lords to be the victors because that's The Doctor's race, but as you see their behavior, especially Rassilon's, you find yourself disliking them too.

I like how they work bits in from Classic Who as well as New Who. Part of this story continues on from The Five Doctors special. Engines of War is a great prequel to The Day Of The Doctor. You can definitely see his weariness of The Time War and with the way both sides were acting it would be easy to press the button on that big box he dragged into the desert.

I totally loved this story, even though the ending had me tearing up a little.

Rating: 5 flowers